Girdle



Nov. 27, 1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1959 //6 INVEN TOR.

M1400! GOA STAMP! I E/001, PH

W %W W6C; M I

A 7'7'0tP/VEYJ Nov. 27, 1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,065,753

GIRDLE Filed May 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 94 loe E: E m: E

IN V EN TOR.

Mud/C1112 3,dh5,753 Patented Nov. 27., 1962 3,l65,753 GERDLE Maude Constance Fridolph, 269 Crescent Bay Drive, Laguua Beach, Calif. Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,453 16 Claims. (Cl. 123-543) This invention relates to a body garment and more particularly to the body garment commonly called a girdle.

In order to hold the abdomen in and to firmly control the thigh and buttock muscles of the wearer, a girdle must fit relatively snug throughout. A firm support and snug tension can be and is maintained in such garments from the waistline down to the hips or approximately the line across the widest part of the hips without discomfort to the wearer, but the necessary tension that must be maintained below the hips restricts the free leg movement of the wearer in the case of most girdles with which I am familiar.

In my prior United States Patent No. 2,445,322, dated July 2%, 1948, I have disclosed a girdle construction which provides a snug fit and firm support and is fashioned with overlapping front panels which, in effect, increase the circumferential dimension of the girdle at its lower front edge without relaxing the support or the molding qualities of the girdle. The girdle of my prior patent also provides a firm support for the buttocks and a cradle like support for the abdomen with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs.

The type of support provided by the girdle of my prior patent was achieved primarily by the provision of overlapping front panels having upwardly inclined lower edges, the lower edge of the back of the girdle extending horizontally below the buttocks. With the construction shown in my prior patent, the two overlapping front panels provided a single sling or hammock for supporting both buttocks.

The girdle of the present invention is a further advance in this art in that it is fashioned to provide a firm support at the back for each buttock with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs at the front while at the same time eliminating the restriction around the lower edge of the girdle, which restriction is invariably present in girdles of conventional construction.

The girdle of the present invention, unlike most girdles with which I am familiar, is designed and constructed so as to control and support the muscles and fleshy portion of each thigh and buttock independently of the other. Stated differently, the present girdle comprises a right half section and a left half section which are so shaped and designed as to operate independently of one another in providing the necessary support to the wearers body. Each half section of the girdle is furthermore constructed such that the buttocks are supported in their natural contour rather than being flattened and squeezed together as is the case with conventional girdles.

More specifically, the girdle of the present invention comprises a rear portion and a front portion, each of which includes a pair of similarly shaped, but oppositely arranged panels connected together by a vertical central seam. The lower edges of the front and rear portions incline upwardly from each side towards the center to the lower ends of the vertical center seams at the front and back of the girdle. The lower ends of the vertical central seams form anchor or fulcrum points for the two half sections of the girdle. At the back portion of the girdle, the fulcrum point at the lower end of the center seam cooperates with the inclined lower edges of the garment to support each buttock separately and in a manner such that the buttocks are not flattened or squeezed together.

In addition, the girdle of the present invention is designed so that its lower edges at the front and back portions of the girdle follow the natural line of the gluteal muscles around the sides and across the buttocks of the wearer. By designing the girdle so that its lower edges follow the natural lines of the gluteal muscles, the girdle can control the thigh line at a lower point than prior art girdles, while at the same time result in a minimum of restriction of movement of the thighs.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a human torso showing the muscles controlled by the girdle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the torso shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one form of girdle of the present invention laid in the flat.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another form of girdle of this invention laid in the flat.

FIG. 5 is a view showing one half section of the rear portion of the girdle illustrated in FIG. 4 laid in the flat.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the manner in which the two panels shown in FIG. 5 are out along their meeting edges.

FIG. 7 is an outline showing the manner in which the buttocks of the wearer are supported by the back portion of the girdle along a line approximately at 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an outline showing the manner in which a girdle of this invention supports the buttocks along the line designated 8-8 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the human torso is generally illustrated, the thigh and but took muscles in this region of the body are controlled by the girdle of this invention to provide a snug fit with a comfortable uplift action and without circumferential restriction. In the torso illustrated, the gluteus maximus muscles which are designated 10 extend from a generally central location 12 well down on the thigh and substantially below the hip line upwardly across the buttocks 14 at the back. The gluteus muscles 16 extend from approximately the waistline at each side down along the hips where they merge with the tensor muscles 18 and the iliotibial band 20. I have determined that if a girdle is designed such that its lower edges follow the contour of these muscles and particularly the gluteus maximus muscles lit), a very firm and comfortable support is provided for the wearer without any restrictive effect.

Thus, the girdle of my construction is shown in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 to illustrate generally the outline thereof in relation to the contour of these muscles. The lower edges of the girdle of my construction extend upwardly from a low point 22 at each side of the wearer adjacent the lower end 12 of the muscles 10 upwardly along the lower line of the buttocks as at 24 to a high point 26 at the center back of the wearer just below the buttocks. These lower edges of the girdle on the front side thereof extend upwardly from the low point 22 around the thighs along an upwardly inclined line 28 which terminates adjacent the pubic region and in a horizontal plane above the high point 26 on the center back of the wearer.

Furthermore, the girdle of this invention is constructed with a right half section and a left half section connected together at the front and the back by a vertical central seam such that the gluteus muscles at each side are controlled independently of one another. This enhances the freedom of movement of the thighs while still providing the necessary uplift action to the abdominal region and the buttocks. Thus, the desired support is provided without producing discomfort.

The girdle illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a front portion 30 fashioned from panels 32 and 34 and a rear portion 36 fastened from panels 38 and 4%. The front panels 32 and 34 are similarly shaped and oppositely disposed; and at the center front of the garment, the straight vertical edges of these panels are connected by a vertical seam 42. The two rear panels 38 and 4t) are likewise similarly shaped and oppositely disposed and at the center of the back, the vertical straight edges of these panels are connected by a center seam 44. The front portion of the girdle is connected with the rear portion of the girdle along each side at the side seams 46, which, it will be observed, approximate in contour the hip line of the wearer. It will be noted that with the garment laid flat, the side seams 45 curve inwardly adjacent the lower portion of the girdle so that the opening defined at the lower end of the girdle is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the girdle at the hip line.

The lower edges 48 and 59 of the two front panels 32, 34 incline upwardly at an angle of at least 15 from the lower ends of the side seams 46 as at 52 to the lower end as at 54 of the vertical front center seam 42. Likewise, the lower edges 56, 58 of the rear panels 38, 40 incline upwardly at an angle of at least 15 from the low point 52 at each side to the lower end of the center seam 44 as at 60. The high point 54 of the lower edges 48, a of the front panels is disposed above the high point 60 of the lower edges 56, S8 of the rear panels. Thus, the lower edges 48, 5d of the front panels incline upwardly at a slightly greater angle than the lower edges 56, 58 of the rear panels. Panels 32, 34, 38, 40 are dimensioned such that when the girdle is on the wearer, the lower ends 52 of the side seams 46 are located adjacent the lower end portion 12 of the gluteus maximus muscles 10. The inclined lower edges of these panels are contoured to generally follow the lower outline of the gluteus muscles especially at the rear around the buttocks of the wearer.

In the girdle illustrated in FIG. 3, each panel is made from a single piece of fabric, preferably a one-way stretch, with the direction of the weave and the stretch being indicated by the arrows. The direction of stretch in each panel is along a line parallel to the inclined lower edge of the panel. The center seams 42, 44 divide the girdle into a right half section and a left half section. The right half section comprises the panels 34, 40 and the left half section comprises the panels 32, 38. At the front of the garment, the lower portion of these two half sections is fulcrumed at the point 54 and at the rear of the garment, the lower portion of the two half sections is fulcrurned at the point 60.

With the above construction, it will be observed that the inclined lower edges of the panels cooperate with the direction of stretch in each panel so that at at least the lower portion of the garment, the pull is not circumferential in a horizontal plane but rather is in a direction upwardly toward the center from each side of the garment. This action, coupled with the fact that the garment is so shaped to be firmly anchored on the hips and still extend well down on the thighs, produces a generally vertically upward lift on the buttocks and the abdomen. Thus, at the back side of the girdle, buttocks are not flattened and squeezed together but are supported more nearly in a vertical direction as distinguished from a purely circumferential restriction in a horizontal plane.

In addition, keeping in mind that the thighs move about the hip joints, it can be seen that the vertical seams 42, 44 terminating at their lower ends in the fulcrum points 54, 60 enable each half section of the girdle to move or flex more or less independently of the other half section of the girdle. Thus, each buttock is supported in generally its natural contour independently of the other buttock. The independent supporting of each buttock in combination with the fact that the lower edges of the girdle follow the outline of the thigh muscles results in a girdle construction which provides a maximum comfortable and natural support without circumferential restriction around the lower ends thereof.

The girdle illustrated in FIG. 4 is generally similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 but differs slightly therefrom in the particular configuration of the front and rear panels. In the girdle illustrated in FIG. 4, the front portion 64 comprises two upper panels 66, 63 and two lower panels 76, 72. The inclined straight upper edges of the lower panels 70, 72 are stitched to the inclined lower straight edges of the upper panels 66, 68 along the inclined stitch lines 74, 76. The four panels are also connected by the vertical center seam 78. The lower edges 80, 82 of panels 79, 72 incline upwardly from the low point 84 at each side of the garment to the lower end 86 of the center seam 78.

The rear portion of the garment illustrated in FIG. 4 likewise comprises two upper panels 88, 9d and two lower panels 92, 94. The lower upwardly inclined edges of the upper panels 38, 93 are connected to the upper upwardly inclined edges of panels 92, 94 along the stitch lines 96, 93. The four rear panels are connected together by a vertical central seam 160, which, at its lower end, terminates in the high point 192 of the lower edges TM, 106 of panels 5 2, 94. The lower edges 104, 106 incline upwardly from the low point 84 at each side of the garment to the high point 102. The front and rear portions of the garment are connected together along each side of the garment by side scams 1%.

As in the previous embodiment illustrated and described, the side edge contours of the front and rear portions are of arcuate shape and curve inwardly adjacent their lower ends to conform to the hip contour. The widest portion of the girdle encompasses the hips of the wearer so that the opening at the lower end of the girdle has a cross section smaller than the cross section of the girdle at the hip line. The outline of the front and rear portions of the girdle illustrated in FIG. 4 is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 3 and these two girdles fit on the wearers body in exactly the same position. However, in the girdle illustrated in FIG. 4, the stretch and weave of the material forming panels 66, 68, 88 and 90, that is, the upper panels of the front and rear portions, extend horizontally while the stretch and weave of the material in panels '70, 72, 92, 94 inclines upwardly and is parallel to the lower edges 80, 82, 104, 106, respectively, of the four panels. With this construction, the line of stretch around the upper portion of the girdle runs straight around the body which gives the body tighter control where needed. On the lower part of the body, the control is slanted upwardly thereby giving control in the direction needed for uplift action.

If desired, the panels forming the rear portion of the girdle can be shaped to provide a more cup like contour for each buttock. This is accomplished, as is illustrated in FIG. 6, by initially forming the lower edges of the top panels 88, and the upper edges of the bottom panels 92, 94 with opposed curved contours. Thus, when laid in the flat, the lower edge of the upper panels assumes the shape of a curve which is concave upwardly as is indicated at 110 and the upper edge of the lower panels 92, 94 is in the form of a curve which is concave downwardly as indicated at 112. When the two edges 110, 112 are stitched together and laid flat, they have the appearance of a straight line as designated at 114 in FIG. 5. However, when a girdle having a back portion constructed in accordance with the showing in FIG. 6 is on the wearers body, each half of the back portion provides a cup formation for receiving and shaping the buttocks. This is illustrated clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The contour illustrated in FIG. 7 clearly delineates a cup formation in a horizontal plane for receiving and controlling the buttocks. The contour illustrated in FIG. 7 is that which the buttocks assume generally at the line 7-7 in FIG. 5. In a vertical plane generally at the line 8-4; in FIG. 5, the rear portion of the girdle when constructed in accordance with FIG. 6 contains the wearers body in the outline shown in FIG. 8. In the outline shown in FIG. 8, the seam 114 formed by the curved edges 110, 112 lies approximately at the point 116. In the outline shown in FIG. 7, the center seam of the back portion lies along the line 118 and the side seams lie at the ends 120 of the contour line illustrated in FIG. 7.

In the embodiments illustrated, I have shown the front panels connected directly to the back panels by the side seams 46 and 108, respectively. It will be appreciated that the front and rear panels need not be directly connected. If desired, an insert, either elastic or inelastic, may be provided at each side of the girdle. Such inserts are conventional and therefore not illustrated.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a girdle construction which provides the desired uplift action to the lower abdomen and the buttocks without appreciable circumferential restriction at the lower portion of the girdle. Furthermore, the girdle is characterized in that it includes a right half section and a left half section con nected together by central vertical seams which enable each half section of the finished garment to separately contain and control the respective gluteal muscles on the body. This enables each gluteal muscle to function separately when the body is in motion instead of the two gluteal muscles 10 being pulled together as to give the appearance as one muscle extending straight across the back.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 694,861, filed November 6, 1957, and now abandoned.

I claim:

1. A two section girdle having a vertical center seam at the front and a vertical center seam at the rear,

said center seams extending to the bottom of the girdle and dividing the garment into separate right and left half sections,

the right half section for containing and controlling the right gluteal muscles and the left half section for containing and controlling the left gluteal muscles, said right and left half sections having side edge contours which concave inwardly throughout their length to conform to the natural hip line so that the upper and lower ends of the garment formed by the half sections are of smaller cross section than at a plane above the lower end of the garment, the garment formed by said half sections having a length from top to bottom substantially as great as its width such that when on the wearer it extends downward- 1y from the waist with the lower edges thereof at each side disposed adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles, the greater part of the lower edges of the two half sections at the front and back respectively converging and slanting upwardly from a point adjacent each side of the garment at the bottom to the center front and center back of the garment and to the lower ends of said center seams along lines corresponding generally to the lower edge contours of the gluteal muscles,

with the upwardly slanting lower edges at the back of the two half sections encompassing when on the wearer at least the greater portion of each buttock whereby to provide an uplift action thereto without substantial circumferential restriction at the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles,

said lower ends of said center seams acting as fulcrums for the lower portion of said half sections.

2. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein the lower end of the center seam at the front is disposed at a level above the lower end of the center seam at the back and the two lower edges of the half sections at the front of the garment incline upwardly to the center at a steeper angle than the two lower edges of the half sections at the back of the garment.

3. A girdle as called for in claim 2 wherein the outer side edges of each half section of the garment are of arcuate contour and curve inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above said lower end in the lower portion of the garment.

4. A girdle as called for in claim 3 wherein each half section comprises a plurality of panels connected together, the panels being formed of an elastic material with the weave and stretch of the material extending generally parallel to said lower edges of the two half sections of the garment.

5. A girdle as called for in claim 3 wherein each half section of the girdle includes a front panel and a rear panel terminating at their lower ends in said inclined edges, said panels being formed of a one-way stretch material with the weave lines and the direction of stretch being generally parallel to the inclined lower edges of said panels.

6. A girdle as called for in claim 3 wherein each half section of the girdle comprises upper and lower front panels and upper and lower rear panels, the lower front and rear panels terminating at their lower ends along said inclined lower edges and being formed of a woven elastic material with the weave line and the line of stretch extending generally parallel to said lower inclined edges.

7. A girdle as called for in claim 6 wherein the upper front and rear panels of each half section are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave line and the line of stretch extending circumferentially in a horizontal plane when on the wearers body.

8. A girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together along their side edges to form a body encircling garment, said side edges of said front and rear portions being of arcuate contour and curving inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above the A lower end in the lower portion of the garment, said front and rear portions of the garment each comprising a pair of single panels connected together along vertically extending center portions of the garment at the front and rear thereof, the greater portion of the lower edges of the front and rear portions of the garment inclining upwardly from points adjacent each side of the garment to the lower ends of said vertically extending center portions at angles of at least 15 and the front and rear portions being dimensioned such that when on the wearers body, the garment extends downwardly at each side to adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles whereby said lower rear panels encircle each gluteus maximus muscle substantially completely to provide an uplift action thereto without substantial circumferential restriction in the lower portion of the thighs.

9. A girdle as called for in claim 8 wherein a substantial portion of each of the front panels extends downwardly and outwardly below the lower end of said front vertical connecting center portion at the front of the garment and a substantial portion of each of the rear panels extends downwardly and outwardly below the lower end of said rear vertical connecting center portion at the rear of the garment whereby the lower ends of said vertical connecting center portions provide central fulcrum points for the front and rear panels on each side thereof.

l0. A two section girdle having a vertical center seam at the front and a vertical center seam at the rear, said center seam dividing the garment into separate right and left half sections, the right half section for containing and controlling the right gluteal muscles and the left half section for containing and controlling the left gluteal muscles, said half sections being dimensioned such that when on the wearer, the garment extends generally from the waist downwardly at each side to adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles at the thigh, each half section comprising an upper and lower front panel extending from said front vertical center seam outwardly and an upper and lower rear panel extending from said rear vertical center seam outwardly, said panels of each half section being connected together at the outer edges thereof to form the outer side edges of the garment, said outer side edges being of arcuate contour and curving inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above the lower end in the lower portion of the garment, the greater part of the lower edges of the lower panels of the two half sections inclining upwardly from points adjacent each side to the lower ends of said vertical center seams, the upper edges of the lower panels of the two half sections being connected to the lower edges of the upper panels of the two half sections along lines generally parallel to the lower edges of said lower panels.

11. A girdle as called for in claim wherein said lower panels of the two half sections are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave and line of stretch extending generally parallel to the lower edges of said lower panels.

12. A girdle as called for in claim 11 wherein the upper panels of the two half sections are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave and line of stretch extending circumferentially in a horizontal plane when on the wearer.

13. A girdle as called for in claim 10 wherein the upper edge of each lower panel at the rear of the girdle is of arcuate shape and concave downwardly and the lower edge of each upper pannel at the rear of the girdle is of arcuate shape and concave upwardly, said arcuately shaped edges being connected together to provide a cup formation at the rear of the girdle on opposite sides of the vertical central seam.

14. A girdle as called for in claim 13 wherein the upper and lower panels at the rear of the girdle are proportioned such that said arcuate edges extend generally laterally across the fleshy part of the buttocks when on the wearer.

15. A girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said front and rear portions having side edge contours which concave inwardly throughout their extent to conform to the natural hip line so that the upper and lower open ends of the garment are of smaller cross section than at a plane above the lower end of the garment, the garment having a length from top to bottom such that when on the wearer it extends downwardly from the waist with the lower edges thereof at each side disposed 0 adjacent the lower end portion of the gluteus maximus muscles, the lower edges of the rear portion being inclined upwardly from each side of the garment to meet and connect at the center rear of the garment and encompassing when on the wearer at least the greater portion of each buttock, whereby the rear portion of the garment provides an uplift support for the entire gluetus maximus muscles at each side of the wearer and for each buttock, the lower edges of the front portion being inclined upwardly at an angle of at least 15 from each side of the garment to the center front whereby the lower edges of the front and rear portions provide an uplift support while permitting complete freedom of leg move ment, said front and rear portions being elastic in at least the lower sections thereof and being formed of a woven elastic material with the weave of the material being generally parallel to said inclined lower edges of the front and rear portions, said elastic sections of the portions being readily stretchable in a direction generally parallel to said inclined lower edges.

16. A girdle comprising a front portion with a vertical center seam and a rear portion with a vertical center seam, both portions being connected together along their side edges to form a body encircling garment, the opposite side edges of said portions being of arcuate contour and curving inwardly and downwardly adjacent the lower portion of the garment such that the opening defined by the lower end of the garment is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the garment in a horizontal plane above said lower end in the lower portion of the garment, the lower edges of said portions converging from the center front and center back of the garment downwardly at each side of the garment, the length of the garment at the sides being substantially as great as its greatest width such that when on the wearer, the garment extends from the waist downwardly at each side to adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles at the thigh, said lower edges of the rear portion when on the wearer inclining upwardly from each side along a line generally conforming to the lowermost portions of the gluteus maximus muscles around the thighs and upwardly just beneath the buttocks, whereby the garment encircles each gluteus maximus muscle substantially completely to provide an uplift action thereto without substantial circumferential restriction in the lower portion of the thighs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,030 Kops Feb. 13, 1940 2,458,712 Kops Jan. 11, 1949 2,640,196 Gould June 2, 1953 2,659,889 Diebold Nov. 24, 1953 2,758,311 Studler Aug. 14, 1956 2,893,397 Plehn July 7, 1959 2,929,381 Schaumer Mar. 22, 1960 

